Did Vontae Davis retire at halftime? Yes, yes he did!

[major]

I bet some of our players said this when he walked out

[Mr. WEO]

Looks like Leslie Frasier retired a halftime as well...

[Bills west]

Please, there is no excuse for what Davis did...none.At worst, he could have returned to the field even if he had made up his mind to retire.He could have done so after the game. He could have been there to support his teammates. He could've given advice on technique,etc. to the younger guys. What he did is selfish and inconsiderate. Employees in all fields make these decisions all the time, be it to retire,switch jobs,re-locate for family reasons, and whatever. But most, I'd garner almost all, are courteous enough and respectfull enough of their soon to be former employers to give their two-week notice. What Davis did was bail on a teamafter realizing they had no chance of glory in the near term. He didn't want to risk injury or have his name linked to the 2018 Bills,because he knew what the likely season outcome was to be. What he did was quit,flat out quit, and then he tried to cover himself with a lame ass excuse.Pathetic, Mr. Davis,hopefully you won't give this same fatherly advice to your children, and hopefully, too,the Captain of your next flight won't make the same decision at 30,000 ft.

[Hapless Bills Fan]

On 9/17/2018 at 6:20 PM, Mr. WEO said:

How much are they paying Coleman and Davis now?

 

Coleman $2.9M (was $3.5M, Patriots get $0.6M now)

 

Davis, should wind up with about $700k.  He should have to repay about $1.36M of his $1.5M signing bonus (14.5/16ths).

We paid him a workout bonus which is his to keep, plus he gets 14.5/16ths of his $2.25M salary and $46k per game active roster bonus.

 

The CBA, as I understand it, is pretty cut-and-dried on what happens when a player retires in-season.

 

 

[row_33]

2 hours ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

Coleman $2.9M (was $3.5M, Patriots get $0.6M now)

 

Davis, should wind up with about $700k.  He should have to repay about $1.36M of his $1.5M signing bonus (14.5/16ths).

We paid him a workout bonus which is his to keep, plus he gets 14.5/16ths of his $2.25M salary and $46k per game active roster bonus.

 

The CBA, as I understand it, is pretty cut-and-dried on what happens when a player retires in-season.

 

 

 

Are there precedents for how they apply the CBA on in-season unexpected retirements?

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

11 hours ago, row_33 said:

Are there precedents for how they apply the CBA on in-season unexpected retirements?

 

"When a player retires, the team has the option to pursue the return of a portion of the signing bonus equal to the unplayed portions of the contract, and that money is no longer counted against the salary cap. This is typically done through an arbitrator. This is known as the "Barry Sanders Rule" because this is exactly how the situation played out in his case, as he was required to pay back a portion of his bonus. The difference between now and then is there was no precedent when Sanders played; now, it's explicitly written into the CBA to allow for this arbitration."

 

No team guarantees a players salary for retirement.  That's why Woods very carefully didn't retire during his presser.  His salary was guaranteed for injury, but if he'd retired, Welp then.

 

 

[row_33]

16 minutes ago, Hapless Bills Fan said:

 

"When a player retires, the team has the option to pursue the return of a portion of the signing bonus equal to the unplayed portions of the contract, and that money is no longer counted against the salary cap. This is typically done through an arbitrator. This is known as the "Barry Sanders Rule" because this is exactly how the situation played out in his case, as he was required to pay back a portion of his bonus. The difference between now and then is there was no precedent when Sanders played; now, it's explicitly written into the CBA to allow for this arbitration."

 

No team guarantees a players salary for retirement.  That's why Woods very carefully didn't retire during his presser.  His salary was guaranteed for injury, but if he'd retired, Welp then.

 

 

 

Thanks HBF, i was wondering if a given team has the ability to weigh the situation case by case and sometimes let things go if they are merit it.

 

Not for this case, hopefully.

 

 

[Hapless Bills Fan]

18 minutes ago, row_33 said:

Thanks HBF, i was wondering if a given team has the ability to weigh the situation case by case and sometimes let things go if they are merit it.

Not for this case, hopefully.

 

Yes, absolutely, that's why it's left as a process for arbitration.  If a team doesn't file for arbitration, the player retires with his bonus.  I'm pretty sure when OLman John Urschel (Canisius grad!) retired last summer, the Ravens did not seek repayment of his bonus.  The amount remaining was pretty small ($40k-ish) so they might not have considered it worthwhile; Urshal was a 5th-round pick who played 40 games for them (started 13) so they may have figured they'd gotten their money's worth.  It was still a nice gesture.

 

There was also a player (a 49ers LB I think, and perhaps ) who retired early and voluntarily repaid the prorated portion of his bonus. 

 

It's my understanding the Bills have already applied for and received a 'roster exemption' for Davis, and indicated that they will file for arbitration on his bonus.

[YoloinOhio]

https://theundefeated.com/features/bills-retired-cornerback-vontae-davis-in-his-own-words/

Quote

For the first time since his abrupt in-game retirement, former Buffalo Bills cornerback Vontae Davis speaks out about the moment he changed his life

Edited September 19, 2018 by YoloinOhio

[Lurker]

Interesting read.     I hope he has a good retirement outside of football...

[MILFHUNTER#518]

He will never live that down

[JPP]

OH Boo F***g Hoo......cry me a river loser.....okay so it kinda sounds like he got a spiritual awakening of sorts in the middle of a football game (for whatever reason)......well does the same spirit tell you to do the right thing and give back every cent you conned out of this organization??

[oldmanfan]

He says he doesn't care what anyone else thinks.  Guess that pretty much says it all.

[BillsFan4]

I have no ill will toward Vontae Davis. I wish him well in his retirement. 

 

As long as he files his retirement papers and hands over that signing bonus money, I’m totally over what he did (and I don’t really see any other option, since he admitted he was just done, not injured). 

[RoyBatty is alive]

1 minute ago, oldmanfan said:

He says he doesn't care what anyone else thinks.  Guess that pretty much says it all.

 

Which is exactly why he is out telling his side of the story, because he doesn't care what anyone think...right...., why not just walk away.

[SoCal Deek]

I retire every day on my lunch hour, but then I'm right back to work in the afternoon....just like the rest of America.   Maybe the Bills aren't giving out good enough orange slices at halftime.

[Aussie Joe]

He says it’s all about how he feels....

 

But it’s a team game...

 

I don’t think he gets it, but it’s done so time to move on..

 

Maybe we should make this the last  thread about this dude... don’t really know what else he can say and I think everyone has made up their minds by now about how they feel about him..

 

 

Edited September 19, 2018 by Aussie Joe

[Returntoglory]

He can say whatever he wants at this point. Use whatever excuse he sees fit. The bottom line is HE QUIT ON HIS TEAMATES AND THE CITY OF BUFFALO!

[Juice_32]

This struck me as very odd and probably tells you where his head was at.

 

For Davis, that game-day morning felt no different from any of the others he had experienced in his nine previous NFL seasons. Waking up in a hotel, eating, reviewing notes, “I felt normal,” he said.

 

Why the hell did he wake up in a hotel for the home opener? Unless this is just really poorly written that tells me he was already checked out (possibly literally).

[WhoTom]

3 minutes ago, Juice_32 said:

This struck me as very odd and probably tells you where his head was at.

 

For Davis, that game-day morning felt no different from any of the others he had experienced in his nine previous NFL seasons. Waking up in a hotel, eating, reviewing notes, “I felt normal,” he said.

 

Why the hell did he wake up in a hotel for the home opener? Unless this is just really poorly written that tells me he was already checked out (possibly literally).

 

Most teams stay in a hotel the night before home games too. I think it's part of a routine.

 

 

 

[Juice_32]

Just now, WhoTom said:

 

Most teams stay in a hotel the night before home games too. I think it's part of a routine.

 

 

 

 

Makes sense I guess. 

[Dablitzkrieg]

28 minutes ago, JPP said:

OH Boo F***g Hoo......cry me a river loser.....okay so it kinda sounds like he got a spiritual awakening of sorts in the middle of a football game (for whatever reason)......well does the same spirit tell you to do the right thing and give back every cent you conned out of this organization??

You must be from Canada eh?

[Captain_Quint]

9 minutes ago, Juice_32 said:

This struck me as very odd and probably tells you where his head was at.

 

For Davis, that game-day morning felt no different from any of the others he had experienced in his nine previous NFL seasons. Waking up in a hotel, eating, reviewing notes, “I felt normal,” he said.

 

Why the hell did he wake up in a hotel for the home opener? Unless this is just really poorly written that tells me he was already checked out (possibly literally).

Yeah, college and pros usually do it. 

[boyst]

Vontae Davis in my word: loser.

 

That's all ya need to know.

[Fadingpain]

There's really nothing new here.  We get it; he had a spiritual epiphany mid-game and knew his time was done.

 

That's fine.  How he responded to that is not what's fine.

 

He could have played another half of football; he could have feigned an injury, pulled himself out of the game, and stayed on the sideline supporting the team....only to announce the retirement in a more dignified manner at a better time.  Perhaps the next day, or whenever that would feel right.

 

Could have been handled in many acceptable ways.  

 

The way he did it is BS.

 

 

 

[Ayjent]

I don't blame him for retiring or his reason's for doing so, but this is a ton of rationalization for a really ill-timed, poorly executed retirement.  Why he retired is perfectly fine.  The how is the problem.  Finish the game out, tell coach you need to play the other guy and say I'm here if you need me until the game is over.  Then after the game approach the team with some respect and let them know your decision and sorry for letting them down and taking a roster spot from someone who could have been committed to the team the entire year.  It's not a regular job, and people make a lot of money doing it, but it is also a job that requires everybody looking out for each other for health and success.  That's why its a big deal and why his teammates and coaches have every right to be pissed at how, not why.

[BuffaloBillyG]

I've read a lot of "sports writers" and fans write about it's comparable with a soldier going AWOL. It's not.

 

What he did is, to me at least the same as a guy walking out on his family on Thanksgiving day, right after the Turkey comes out of the oven. 

 

In either scenario there is nothing inherently wrong with giving everyone a fresh start if your heart is no longer in it. But there is a time and a place to take the the drastic action. 

 

If he was done, fine and wish him well. But to just walk out when you know your team and friends you have made since here are playing shorthanded to begin with is just spineless. Hope he has a nice new life though. 

[Ayjent]

Just now, Fadingpain said:

There's really nothing new here.  We get it; he had a spiritual epiphany mid-game and knew his time was done.

 

That's fine.  How he responded to that is not what's fine.

 

He could have played another half of football; he could have feigned an injury, pulled himself out of the game, and stayed on the sideline supporting the team....only to announce the retirement in a more dignified manner at a better time.  Perhaps the next day, or whenever that would feel right.

 

Could have been handled in many acceptable ways.  

 

The way he did it is BS.

 

Beat me to it.  Same thought.

[Acantha]

I'm honestly leaning toward the idea that he planned it. Left off the active roster week 1, only got back due to injury. He saw the writing on the wall and wanted to make a splash on his way out, maybe even an F U to the Bills who deactivated him.

 

Far fetched maybe, but no more so than a mid game epiphany.

[whatdrought]

It’s completely fine to be done. When it happens it happens, he can’t control that. But there were a bunch of ways to do it that didn’t end with him taking a **** on his teammates. 

 

He truly doesn’t care about anyone.

[sleeby]

32 minutes ago, SoCal Deek said:

I retire every day on my lunch hour, but then I'm right back to work in the afternoon....just like the rest of America.   Maybe the Bills aren't giving out good enough orange slices at halftime.

But if you had millions in the bank would you go back?  ?

[Buffalo Bills Fan]

Well I think i'll retire half time as a Bill's fan when they play Vikings. Wish me luck guys! Sarcasm

[JPP]

33 minutes ago, Dablitzkrieg said:

You must be from Canada eh?

Apparently not a very good Canadian.....i forgot the "eh" at the end of my post.....

[Hapless Bills Fan]

41 minutes ago, Juice_32 said:

This struck me as very odd and probably tells you where his head was at.

 

For Davis, that game-day morning felt no different from any of the others he had experienced in his nine previous NFL seasons. Waking up in a hotel, eating, reviewing notes, “I felt normal,” he said.

 

Why the hell did he wake up in a hotel for the home opener? Unless this is just really poorly written that tells me he was already checked out (possibly literally).

 

It's pretty much SOP.  Teams want the players in one place, a place with ready access to the field maybe, have team meetings and final prep the night before.

[Bob in STL]

Texting his wife and friend from the sidelines.  Happy with his decision. 

 

Nothing in that article changes my opinion.  

[C.Biscuit97]

He was washed up 3 years ago.  Terrible signing and he joins Kyle Orton on the all time coward list.  What a ?.

[26CornerBlitz]

 

[Foxx]

4 minutes ago, 26CornerBlitz said:

 

as is the western NY way. good for them.

 

[Kelly the Dog]

Oh, and he didn't tackle Melvin Gordon just short of the third down on the first series. Gordon tackled himself and Vontae fell on him. 

[NoSaint]

6 hours ago, Juice_32 said:

This struck me as very odd and probably tells you where his head was at.

 

For Davis, that game-day morning felt no different from any of the others he had experienced in his nine previous NFL seasons. Waking up in a hotel, eating, reviewing notes, “I felt normal,” he said.

 

Why the hell did he wake up in a hotel for the home opener? Unless this is just really poorly written that tells me he was already checked out (possibly literally).

 

 

The hotel creates a setting where you can control Saturday night dinner and meetings, a curfew, Sunday morning meetings and food. Coordinated transportation. It’s standard issue. I’d suggest asking to learn more before raging.